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Mineral Resources (MinRes) has handed over the first custom off-road triple road train to Hexagon AB for conversion to autonomous operation. Delivered one month ahead of schedule, the handover represents a significant milestone in the development of a fully autonomous fleet of road trains. This world-first technology was designed and developed by MinRes and Hexagon for Mineral Resources’ Onslow iron project which is situated in the Pilbara region of WA. MinRes director of technology and innovation David Geraghty presented the keys to a customised Kenworth C509 prime mover at Hexagon AB’s Perth workshop. Hexagon AB chief synergy officer autonomous solutions Gordon Dale, executive vice president core autonomy Mike Verheyn and vice president core autonomy engineering John Buszek were in Perth…

Visible gold in quartz veins has been intersected at the Bellagio gold prospect in NSW. Situated within Koonenberry Gold’s (ASX:KNB) namesake project, a 14-hole air core drilling program was undertaken at Bellagio to test below the base of complete oxidation where broad wide zones of highly anomalous gold was defined during phase one drilling. Under this recent drilling program, the drill rig was able to penetrate through the completely weathered upper saprolite and saprock where the true nature of the gold mineralisation may be revealed. Visible gold was observed from 75m to 76m with multiple fine gold grains (0.2mm in size) observed in quartz veins and goethitic fractures in drill chips. Full assays from the phase two drilling program are…

Nickel Industries Limited (ASX: NIC) has entered into a maiden nickel matte sales contract with Glencore AG commencing in January 2024 and running for an initial six-month term. The contract will see nickel matte from Nickel Industries’ Hengjaya nickel project in Indonesia sold to Glencore. Nickel Industries managing director Justin Werner says the company is delighted about this initial Glencore contract. “This contract a maturing of our nickel matte business and an important diversification of our customer base into western markets closely linked with the global EV supply chain,” he said. “Very pleasingly we have seen strong interest from global battery and EV makers for our matte product and welcome this first contract with Glencore as we continue to…

Cape Flattery Silica Pty Ltd (CFS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eternal Asia Supply Chain Management Ltd (EA) for the testing of processed high purity silica sand from the CFS project. The MoU between the Metallica Minerals Limited (ASX: MLM) wholly-owned subsidiary and the Shenzhen Investment Holdings Co Ltd subsidiary will also assess its suitability for further processing and value adding using EA’s propriety technology. Metallica executive chairman Theo Psaros says the MoU with Eternal Asia is a great outcome for both parties. “For CFS is provides an opportunity to move out already high purity silica sand into a non-glass market segment with a higher value, through further processing using EA’s technology,” he said. “For EA they…

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) has reached an important milestone with first feed of materials from Mt Weld being introduced into the Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility. This marks the transition from commissioning phase to first production and ramp up of the facility. Lynas Rare Earths chief executive and managing director Amanda Lacaze says the company is delighted to have achieved first feed on in Kalgoorlie. “This is an exciting milestone as we continue to expand our operating footprint and capacity to meet growing global demand for separate rare earth materials,” she said. “The Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility is Australia’s first value-added rare earths processing facility, making it a significant project for both Lynas and the Australian critical…

Nickel Industries (ASX:NIC) is trialling electric vehicles (EVs) within its operating fleet as part of its strategy to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon intensity by 2035. These vehicles will be deployed across Nickel Industries’ IMIP and Hengjaya operations, with each electric vehicle expected to deliver significant emission savings compared to traditional vehicles. Nickel Industries managing director Justin Werner commented on the electric vehicles. “We are very pleased to announce the introduction of EVs to our operations as we strive to become the world’s pre-eminent global nickel company with an unrivalled platform of diversified, low-cost, sustainably produced nickel products, underpinned by global best practice mining standards,” he said. “With the recent opening of our Hengjaya mine to IMIP haul road…

BHP (ASX:BHP) has signed an agreement with one of the world’s largest steelmakers — China’s HBIS Group — in a bid to lower blast furnace carbon emissions. The partnership will see the companies trial direct reduced iron (DRI) production and utilisation of BHP iron ores in blends and progress a separate enhanced lump stage two trial. To support the development of alternate steel production, the companies will trial commercial-scale DRI production using BHP iron ores in blends at HBIS’s newly commissioned DRI plant. The DRI plant uses hydrogen-rich gas byproducts in the steelworks to convert ore into a metallic iron product that is further refined for steel. Additionally, the enhanced lump stage two trial will focus on the existing blast…

Queensland Pacific Metals (ASX:QPM) has produced more than 62kg of high purity alumina (4N HPA) from the Lava Blue demonstration plant. QPM and Lava Blue recently completed the first campaign of the HPA demonstration plant operation with work aiming to confirm the HPA flowsheet for the TECH project and produce samples for offtake marketing purposes. HPA produced from the demonstration plant has been split into six 10kg blends and has been transported to the United States. These blends have been assayed with results exceeding 4N purity. QPM’s technical and market team have been working closely with a specialised US consultant in identifying potential offtake partners. The initial focus has been on the LED market (sapphire glass). The TECH (Townsville Energy…

The Northern Territory has recorded its highest ever mineral exploration expenditure, with $74.4m spent in the September quarter. This figure is up 30% from the same quarter last year and surpasses the previous record of $71.6m set in the September 2011 quarter. Notably, the Northern Territory’s 30% increase was much higher than the Australia-wide increase of 5%. Mineral exploration in the Territory for 2023 is currently on track to be the highest calendar year expenditure on record. Northern Territory Mining Minister Nicole Manison commented on the growth. “These latest figures show the world is quickly transitioning to renewable energy — and the Territory’s critical minerals are in high demand,” she said. “The Territory’s resources sector, both in exploration and production,…

Quantitative assessment of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives provides robust and defensible data to support compliance, stakeholder engagement and business sustainability goals. Whatever your pathway to identifying, planning, and implementing your ESG initiatives, environmental monitoring data plays a key role in supporting your decision making. The saying “if you can’t manage it, you can’t measure it” has never been truer. Novecom Pty Ltd supports businesses in measuring their environmental performance and is a leader in compliance and operational environmental management solutions. Novecom’s innovative approach to environmental monitoring facilitates business operators knowing what their environmental impacts are in near real-time. Social licence to operate is something you earn No longer is maintaining compliance with regulatory instruments the indicator of good…

Melbourne, Australia – The Weir Group PLC, a global mining technology leader, has completed a comprehensive study that highlights a significant opportunity to reduce energy use and emissions in comminution, the rock crushing process that is key to minerals extraction, and that consumes around 3% of the world’s electrical power each year1. The study shows that replacing conventional technology with innovative new solutions can cut energy use by 40% while also avoiding 50% of CO2e emissions. Speaking at a COP28 panel discussion hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and moderated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Paula Cousins, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Weir revealed the details of the study that…